Make Believe

by Alan Wills

  “I’m sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have reacted that way.”

  Serena looks at him with a pinching frown, lowering her eyebrows.

  “Let’s not talk about it,” she replies.

  Once they finish eating, Serena stands to start clearing the table.

  “You look tired. Go put your feet up and rest. I’ll take care of the kitchen,” Manny offers.

  She gives a slight nod and goes into the living room to rest on the couch. A few minutes later, Manny nudges her shoulder.

  “Serena, wake up.”

  After opening her eyes, she takes his hand for help off the couch, but when he attempts to walk her to the bedroom, she lets go of his hand, not wanting his assistance. So, he walks back into the kitchen to finish putting the food away. Then he takes the music box and puts it in the nursery on the dresser.

  “Manny.”

  He stops in the hall upon hearing the eerie voice.

  “Manny.”

  There it is again.

  He goes into their bedroom.

  “Did you call me?” he asks, looking over at the bed where his wife lay, but Serena is sleeping.

  He goes down the hallway to the living room.

  “Who’s there?” he calls out.

  He doesn’t see anyone, though.

  “That’s strange. I could have sworn someone called my name.”

  ****

  The next morning, Manny explains to his wife about hearing the voice. Serena thinks it’s strange because she didn’t hear anything. At eight months pregnant, she is moving slower but refuses his help. She pushes the baskets with her feet into the laundry room. He retreats into his man cave, understanding her silence.

  As Serena prepares to go to the store, a pain radiates at her side and around to her back. She gasps, grabbing the end of the couch. She doesn’t want to ask for any help from him after what he did the day before. Trying to forgive him for his episodes of rage is getting harder.

  The pain shoots through her back again. Clutching her stomach, she tries to walk to the basement door.

  “Manny.”

  He doesn’t answer her. She opens the door.

  “Manny!”

  No answer.

  Holding on to the railing, she takes a step down as pain grips her stomach. Serena rounds the stairs and stops.

  “What are you doing?” Her hands cover her mouth, eyes growing wide as she watches Manny scrambling to cover himself and his computer screen.

  “Why did you come down here?” he growls.

  Tears run down her face as she grabs the railing.

  “Why are you looking at such filthy things?” Another pain hits, and her knees try to buckle, but she holds her ground. “You are disgusting, watching young girls in that way. Who were you talking to?”

  He reaches for her, but she backs away.

  “Let me explain.”

  “No. I’m tired of you and this marriage. I’m leaving.”

  Holding her stomach, she goes back up the stairs. Manny panics. He fixes his clothes while running to catch her.

  “You not leaving me! I won’t allow it.”

  Holding on to the wall, Serena makes it to the top and over to the kitchen table where she takes a seat. The pain is coming more. She needs to stay calm. She tries leaning back in the chair and taking slow, deep breaths while rubbing her stomach.

  Manny blocks her legs so she can’t get up.

  “Did you hear me? I won’t let you leave me. You are my wife, and you belong to me.”

  Looking up at him, she replies, “I don’t want a pedophile for a husband, and I definitely don’t want you around my child.”

  He grabs her by the throat. “You think you can talk to me just any kind of way? Think again.”

  Serena struggles to get away. He lets her go with a sudden backhand. Her head swings to the right, and she scoots back in the chair, trying to put distance between them.

  Baring his teeth, Manny snarls, “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Serena scoots one more time before she hears music playing. The same music from the music box Manny gave her to convince her to forgive him once again.

  Why is it playing? No one opened it.

  Both turn and look in the direction of the music.

  “Why is that thing playing?” he asks, glancing back at Serena, but she stays quiet.

  Just then, a creepy voice comes from the hall. “Manny.”

  Serena stands up and moves by the basement door.

  The voice speaks again. “Manny, you are a bad husband.”

  He backs up toward his wife.

  “You must pay.”

  He turns around to see a woman in a dirty dress with gray skin and long nails.

  “Who the hell are you?” he demands, puffing out his chest and trying not to look scared.

  As the woman slowly approaches him, they both notice that her feet are not touching the ground. Serena feels another pain and starts moving down the hall to the front door. Manny tries to follow as the first slash comes down his back. He screams.

  Serena stops and turns around, but the voice tells her to go. Manny screams again. The slashing continues as the music plays. He tries to crawl away from the woman but doesn’t get far. Her sharp nails inflict more cuts as he continues to fight and scream.

  Serena makes it out of the house and to the car. When she turns to look back, she sees the woman in the window. The woman smiles. The music stops.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Terri Anderson locks her front door and heads out to run errands before her daughter arrives home from school. After paying all the bills, she decides to stop by the Goodwill on 86th Street before picking up groceries. She isn’t looking for anything in particular but wants to survey the different racks of items. While looking, she sees a beautiful music box on a table by itself. Terri selects some shirts, a skirt, and a purse, then walks back over to the box and takes it with her.

  Once she arrives home, Terri places the music box on her daughter’s dresser, then calls her babysitter to confirm she is available for the night.

  ****

  Ashley, the babysitter, pushes the microwave buttons, and the popcorn bag starts to turn. It fully inflates until the light goes off and the microwave beeps. After removing the popcorn, she opens the bag and blows away the steam before taking a few kernels and pitching them in her mouth. Her cell rings.

  “Hey, Mom,” Ashley answers, then replies to her mother’s question. “No, Mom. I told you this is just temporary until I can afford to start the spring semester.” She pours the popcorn from the bag into a bowl. “Who’s the family? I’m babysitting for the Andersons tonight.”

  Ashley turns off the light in the kitchen and walks toward the living room. The beginning of Jed Kruder is playing in the background.

  “Did you check the house?” her mother asks.

  “Yes. I made sure all the doors are locked. I really wish you would stop worrying so much.”

  Another call beeps in, and she looks at the phone.

  “Mom, I have to go. Mrs. Anderson is on the other line.”

  Ashley clicks over. “Hello, Mrs. Anderson,” she says, finishing the popcorn in her mouth. She pauses as Mrs. Anderson inquires about her daughter. “Yes, Sarah is fine. We were just about to watch a movie. She’s playing in her room. Do you want me to get her?”

  Sarah is sitting on the floor facing her closet, playing. Her closet door is open, and it looks as though she is talking to someone.

  “No, she is nice.” Sarah pauses as if listening to a response, then says, “Mommy and Daddy asked her to come and play with me.” She pauses again. “She isn’t bad. You’re being mean.” Turning away from the closet, Sarah cries, “Stop it, Beth!”

  There is a knock at the door before Ashley enters Sarah’s room.

  “Hey! Who were you talking to?”

  Sarah looks back at the closet. “My frie
nd.”

  Ashley steps further into the room and looks around. Her gaze stops at the music box, which is open and playing music. She sits down in front of the closet, facing Sarah.

  “Your friend? Where is she?”

  The little girl points towards the closet. “She’s in there. Her name is Beth, and she’s being mean.”

  Ashley looks behind her, but nothing is there.

  “Oh. Well, why is Beth being so mean?”

  “She said you are a bad person for what you want to do,” Sarah responds with a serious look. “She said you deserve to be punished.”

  Ashley closes the closet door.

  “Okay, Sarah, playtime is over. We’re going downstairs to watch one of your movies.”

  Sarah pops up. “Can I watch Jed Kruder again?”

  “No, not this time. I should have never let you watch that.”

  “Please, Ashley,” Sarah pleads. “I promise I won’t have nightmares this time.”

  Ashley points to the door. “Why don’t you go downstairs and find us a not-so-scary one. Okay?”

  She smiles. “Can I have popcorn?”

  Ashley laughs. “There is some on the table waiting for you, squirt. Now get downstairs before I feed you to the closet monster. Bwahaha!”

  Sarah screams and runs out of the room.

  Before turning to leave out of the room, Ashley digs into her pocket. She pulls out an appointment card for Planned Parenthood with a scheduled abortion time and date. While she is looking over the card, the closet door slowly opens, and the bedroom light turns off. Ashley stands frozen in place in front of the closet. When she goes to turn around, a woman’s hand reaches out and grabs her shoulders. Ashley screams as she is pulled into the closet. The music box, which is sitting on the dresser, is open and playing music. The closet door slams shut. The screams continue.

  Sarah sits down in front of the television. Ignoring the sounds from upstairs, she starts watching Dark Night and eating popcorn. She can hear the music playing, but it stops when she turns her head toward the stairs. Shrugging her shoulders, Sarah continues watching the show.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Brad rolls over in his bed to face a frustrated Megan, who’s fully dressed and tapping her foot.

  “You scared me,” he says through a yawn. “What are you doing up so early?”

  “It’s not early. It’s ten-thirty, and you promised I could go pick out a gift for Shawna,” she states while continuing to tap her foot, signaling her decreasing patience.

  “I forgot, but I’ll get ready now. Wait for me downstairs.”

  He sits on the side of his bed and looks at the clock on the nightstand. His daughter is right. He overslept. The late nights are getting to him. Thirty minutes later, he walks into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Megan is waiting at the kitchen counter, finishing a bowl of cereal.

  “How about we visit the new flea market?” He takes another swig of his coffee. It is slowly helping him wake up. “Where are Nakia and Shawna?”

  “They just left to go to the store. I want to surprise Shawna with the gift, so she can’t go with us. Duh!”

  As Megan puts her bowl in the sink, Brad deposits his empty cup beside the bowl.

  “Well, let’s get this over with.”

  Brad is not in the mood for a shopping spree, but Megan will never let him live it down if he doesn’t go along with it.

  After visiting a few shops and not finding anything, they make their way to the flea market.

  “You have to find something here because I’m tired of looking,” he says, opening the door for her.

  It is their first time going to this flea market. While Megan walks around the store’s front, a little boy passes her with a large ice cream cone.

  “They have ice cream. Daddy, can I get some?” she asks, batting her eyes at him.

  He feels terrible for delaying the trip, so he agrees, and they walk over to the counter to skim the different flavors. Megan decides on a big scoop of cookies ‘n cream.

  “Make sure to start licking it before it melts.”

  She nods, licking the cone. “It’s so cold. Can we pick out a gift for Shawna now?”

  He puts his hand on her shoulder and leads her into a large room with tables and booths. They look around the store at the various items. Up one aisle and down another they go, looking for the perfect gift. Megan walks over to a booth with a music box sitting on a shelf. She picks it up and then searches with her eyes for the owner of the booth. When she opens it, she notices a mirror on the lid. It plays music with a sweet sound.

  “Daddy! I found it. Can I get this one?”

  She holds the music box up so he can see it. He takes it from her to examine it, looking for a tag.

  “This doesn’t have a price. I don’t know if it’s for sale.”

  Megan pouts. “Please? It’s perfect for Shawna.”

  Brad looks at his daughter. “You are hell-bent on getting her a gift, aren’t you?” He walks back out to the counter. “Excuse me.”

  The store clerk looks up. “How can I help you?”

  He smiles. “My daughter would like to buy this for her stepsister.”

  “Just sister, Daddy!” Megan corrects him.

  “I’m sorry. Her sister, but I don’t see a price on it.”

  He hands it to the clerk, who examines the music box.

  “Honestly, I don’t remember seeing this in here. Where did you find it?” she asks.

  Brad glances at his daughter and then back to the clerk. “It was in one of the booths on a shelf.”

  She shakes her head. “Well, if there’s no price tag, I can’t really sell it to you.”

  Megan pouts as she works on finishing her cone.

  He glances back at the clerk with his hands in a praying position. “Please. It’s for my daughter.”

  The clerk looks over at Megan and then back down at the music box. She opens it and stares in the mirror. It’s almost like something spooks her.

  “You know what, why don’t you just take it?”

  Megan’s expression lights up. She is excited.

  “Really? I can have it?”

  The clerk hands the music box to her. “Only if you promise to give it to Shawna.”

  Brad frowns. “How did you know her name?”

  The clerk fumbles with a cup by the register. “I’m sorry, do what?”

  Brad looks puzzled. “You said my daughter’s name. You said, ‘Only if you promise to give it to Shawna.’ How did you know my other daughter’s name was Shawna?”

  The clerk put her hand on her hip. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Brad grabs his daughter’s hand. “Come on, Megan. Let’s go.”

  The store clerk stands there with a smile on her face as they walk away.

  Megan drops the napkins from her cone in the trashcan by the front door. The clerk’s smile turns into a grimace once they walk through the door. She hopes the woman dripping with blood that she just saw staring back at her doesn’t show up for the little girl who gets that box.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Nakia takes a break from working on paperwork to glance at her watch. It shows four o’clock, and she’s expecting her husband and stepdaughter to be home soon. She looks toward the end of the table where her daughter, Shawna, is playing on her tablet. The front door opens, and Nakia looks up to see her family coming into the house.

  “Hello, babe.”

  Brad walks over and kisses her. “Hello, beautiful.”

  He then gives Shawna a hug and a kiss on top of her head. She is still focusing on her tablet.

  Megan cannot wait to share the gift with her new sister.

  “Guess what me and Dad found?”

  Shawna places the tablet on the table. “Let me see!”

  Brad smiles at their eagerness to use the gift.

  “I’m going to jump in the shower before dinner,” he tel
ls his wife as he starts unbuttoning his shirt.

  Nakia nods. “I’ll get started on it.”

  He acknowledges her response with a nod and goes to their bedroom. The siblings sit at the table to look at the new music box.

  “I thought you might like it.” Megan hands her the box.

  “It’s really pretty. Thanks, Megan,” Shawna says, turning the box over to examine it.

  “You’re welcome.” Megan hugs her before heading up the stairs to her bedroom. Before she reaches the top, she stops and turns to ask Nakia, “Can we go to the mall tomorrow?”

  Nakia puts her pen down. “What do you want to get, honey?”

  Megan turns to come back down a couple of stairs. “I want to go look at the puppies in the mall.”

  Clearing her throat to get her daughter’s attention, Nakia asks, “What do you think, Shawna? Do you want to go see the puppies?”

  Shawna is staring at the mirror in the music box and doesn’t hear her mother talking. A woman in a bloody white dress is staring back at her.

  “Shawna!” Nakia raises her voice, breaking Shawna out of her trance.

  “I’m sorry, Momma. What did you say?”

  Nakia is wondering why her daughter is acting weird, but she asks her question again.

  “Do you want to go see the puppies in the mall tomorrow?”

  Getting excited, Shawna sets the music box on the table.

  “Yes, I wanna see the puppies!”

  “It’s settled then. We’ll see puppies tomorrow. I’m going to get dinner ready. How about the two of you play in your rooms until then?”

  She starts clearing her work off the table, placing it in her bag. She then walks into the kitchen, happy everyone is getting along.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Shawna takes her gift to her bedroom and sits down in the middle of the floor. She wants to examine it more. Opening the box, Shawna can hear the angelic music playing. It makes her sway, and she forgets everything else around her. She then stares into the mirror within the box like she is in a daze. The woman in the bloody dress is staring back from the mirror at her. As Shawna continues to stare in the mirror, the woman’s figure is now standing behind her. Shawna begins to speak to the woman.